1918 in sports

1918 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.

Note — many sporting events did not take place because of World War I or the 1918 flu pandemic

American football

College championship

• College football national championship – Pittsburgh Panthers

Professional football

• Most teams shut down due to World War I and the flu pandemic; those that continue play are forced to delay the start of play until the middle of October or later
• Dayton Triangles defeat Detroit Heralds, both of whom continue full operations despite war and flu, to establish themselves as the strongest team in the US
• Buffalo Niagaras sign Tommy Hughitt for play in a citywide league, establishing a trend of expansion of top-level professional competition outside Ohio

Association football

Europe

• There is no major football in Europe due to World War I

Australian rules football

VFL Premiership

• South Melbourne wins the 22nd VFL Premiership beating Collingwood 9.8 (62) to 7.15 (57) in the 1918 VFL Grand Final.

South Australian Football League:

• not contested due to World War I

West Australian Football League:

• 21 September: East Fremantle 11.8 (74) defeat East Perth 8.5 (53) for their tenth WAFL premiership.

Bandy

Sweden

• Championship final – IFK Uppsala 4–1 IK Sirius (replay following 2–2 draw)

Baseball

World Series

• 5–11 September — Boston Red Sox (AL) defeats Chicago Cubs (NL) to win the 1918 World Series by 4 games to 2

Events

• Babe Ruth leads the American League in home runs for the first time, hitting 11
• 2 September — professional baseball is curtailed to accelerate mobilisation for war

Boxing

Events

• No world titles change hands in 1918 but Jack Dempsey, with a series of knockouts including one against Battling Levinsky, is now the main challenger to Jess Willard.

Lineal world champions^[1]

• World Heavyweight Championship – Jess Willard
• World Light Heavyweight Championship – Battling Levinsky
• World Middleweight Championship – Mike O'Dowd
• World Welterweight Championship – Ted "Kid" Lewis
• World Lightweight Championship – Benny Leonard
• World Featherweight Championship – Johnny Kilbane
• World Bantamweight Championship – Pete Herman
• World Flyweight Championship – Jimmy Wilde

Canadian football

Grey Cup

• not contested due to World War I

Cricket

Events

• There is no first-class cricket in England, Australia, South Africa or the West Indies due to World War I. A number of first-class matches are arranged in New Zealand but are not part of any official competition.

India

• Bombay Quadrangular – Hindus shared with Parsees

New Zealand

• Plunket Shield – not contested

Cycling

Tour de France

• not contested due to World War I^[2]

Giro d'Italia

• not contested due to World War I

Figure skating

World Figure Skating Championships

• not contested due to World War I

Golf

Events

• All major championships are cancelled due to World War I

Horse racing

England

• Grand National – not held due to World War I
• 1,000 Guineas Stakes – Ferry
• 2,000 Guineas Stakes – Gainsborough
• The Derby – Gainsborough^[3]
• The Oaks – My Dear
• St. Leger Stakes – Gainsborough

Australia

• Melbourne Cup – Night Watch

Canada

• King's Plate – Springside

Ireland

• Irish Grand National – Ballyboggan
• Irish Derby Stakes – King John

USA

• Kentucky Derby – Exterminator
• Preakness Stakes – not contested as a single race
• Belmont Stakes – Johren

Ice hockey

Stanley Cup

• The temporary Toronto Arenas team defeats the Montreal Canadiens 10–7 to win the inaugural National Hockey League (NHL) championship
• Vancouver Millionaires defeats Seattle Metropolitans 3–2 to win the Pacific Coast Hockey Association championship
• 20–30 March — Toronto Arenas (NHL) defeats Vancouver Millionaires (PCHA) in the 1918 Stanley Cup Finals by 3 games to 2

Events

• 2 January — Montreal Wanderers disbands following destruction of its home venue by fire
• Allan Cup is won by Kitchener Greenshirts

Motor racing

Events

• No major races are held anywhere worldwide due to World War I

Rowing

The Boat Race

• Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race – not contested due to World War I^[4]

Rugby league

England

• All first-class competitions are cancelled due to World War I

Australia

• NSW Premiership – South Sydney (outright winner)

New Zealand

• 1918 New Zealand rugby league season

Rugby union

Five Nations Championship

• Five Nations Championship series is not contested due to World War I

Speed skating

Speed Skating World Championships

• not contested due to World War I

Tennis

Australia

• Australian Men's Singles Championship – not contested due to World War I

England

• Wimbledon Men's Singles Championship – not contested due to World War I
• Wimbledon Women's Singles Championship – not contested due to World War I

France

• French Men's Singles Championship – not contested due to World War I
• French Women's Singles Championship – not contested due to World War I

USA

• American Men's Singles Championship – Lindley Murray (USA) defeats Bill Tilden (USA) 6–3 6–1 7–5
• American Women's Singles Championship – Molla Bjurstedt Mallory (Norway) defeats Eleanor E. Goss (USA) 6–4 6–3

Davis Cup

• 1918 International Lawn Tennis Challenge – not contested